Do water and electric mix?

Hello again, I did an inspection with a very wet basement. The ceiling had leak evidence with an electrical outlet in the middle of the most wet spot! Who wants to see if this outlet is working? Ok, I will............after all it is my job! So do you think it was live or dead? It was dead, go figure! Please be careful in your home when it comes to water leaking near outlets or worse your main electric panel! Not sure where to look? Please call me for an inspection, always ready to work for you.

Take care,
Ed Romaniello

"Metal or Plastic?"

Hello fellow homeowners! The question of the week is "Metal or Plastic?" Which do you have? I'm talking about the vent piping material on the back of your clothes dryer. Take a look. If it looks like the one in this picture, you have plastic, and should consider changing it soon. Plastic dryer vents have been linked to many house fires. The best type is the solid metal ones. Please keep in mind that you should also check them periodically for dust buildup and clean as needed.

Please email or call me with any questions. eaglehomeinspections@embarqmail.com or (973) 875-0100. Have a good and productive week! Ed.

Termite Mud Tunnels

Hi Everyone, Hope you're staying cool on this hot August day! It's 105 degrees in the sun today and the humidity is hard to miss!

So have you ever seen something like this at home around your foundation? If so, you could have termites. This is a picture of a home inspection where the mud tunnels were on the interior walls of the garage coming up from the floor. If you're not sure please call me to do a pest inspection at your home. It can be an eye opening experience!!

How can I be sure my chimney liner is not cracked?

So the question is......."How can I know if my chimney liner is ok?" Sometimes it is easy! Please see above photo of a crumbling chimney liner that has seen better days! Other ways of knowing are to check the top area of the exposed liner. Do you see cracks or deterioration? If you're not sure you can always have a qualified chimney sweep clean and inspect the liner for cracks. A cracked chimney liner is a potential fire hazard.

Any questions? Please email or call me anytime. That's all for now! Ed

"Does this basement flood?"

Hello Everyone, Hope your Spring is going well! The big question of the day is how do you know if my basement floods? I'm asked this question at almost every home inspection. Part of my inspection involves investigating the potential for dampness, water seepage and water entry. I look for water stains, moisture evidence on anything in contact with the floor and also I use a moisture meter. The meter confirms my findings and tells if the problem is recent or old. Please see the above picture.

So there you have it! Old evidence, new evidence or potential problems.........call me to find out the answers!

Eagle Home Inspections....."The Home Inspector With Eagle Eyes!"

What is that smell in the basement?

Hello everyone.......Happy Spring! So there I was on an inspection in Franklin with my clients. We headed into the basement and were hit with a smell that was truely unforgetable. My client asked me....what is that smell? My eyes went immediately to the main drain pipe along the foundation wall. As you see in the picture.....it's the pipe with the failed "bandaids" on it and raw sewage in the bucket below!! I quickly said.....whatever you do, don't touch it! This is what happens when you try to play plumber. "Hey kids...grab a plastic bag and some duct tape.....why isn't it working, quick grab a bucket! Just who's job is it to empty the bucket??

Please don't mess with septic and sewer issues...get a qualified contractor to repair the problem.

Tune in for more inspection nightmare pictures from the "Home Inspector With Eagle Eyes!" and a good sense of smell!!